Les Jeux Sont Funk throws in everything but the kitchen sink in paying homage to some of their favorite funk artists in “A Tribute to the J.B.s.” During a writing retreat in Trento, Italy, the newly expanded group decided to fan the flames of their budding musical chemistry and jam in the styles of The Meters, Shuggie Otis, Roy Ayers, P-Funk, and more. One of the grooves formulated on bass and guitar was augmented by tight hitting drums and touches of Latin jazz horns and it seemed to fall amongst the same lineage as The J.B.s. As the band reflected, they compared the J.B.s to figurative sherpas that helped James Brown climb to the top. Les Jeux Sont Funk penned the crafty title “A Tribute to the J.B.s,” as they were quite literally a funk band rehearsing in the mountains looking to elevate their collective sound to new levels.
On his first album in five years, “The Funky Sax Man” Charles “Chazzy” Green reconnects with his longtime pal and collaborator Ray Parker Jr., among other top line urban jazz sidemen, to create the richly emotional, alternately punchy/funky and blissfully sensual collection Let's Go Home – whose title is a wink towards the reality of remote recording this past year while in lockdown. While renowned for wide-ranging skills on alto and tenor, the Detroit bred, Howard University educated musician – who has played and toured throughout his career with the likes of Howard Hewett, Montell Jordan, Macy Gray and Bobby Womack - showcases on a few infectious tracks his equally sparkling flute skills – a callback to Green’s early classical training which also included clarinet. ~ www.smoothjazz.com
In an inspirational video clip Gil Johnson (known professionally as Gil) posted while he was making his down deep soulful, heartfelt and uber-romantic debut album Sometimes A Man, the Detroit based vocalist - reflecting on his recent retirement from the car business after 30 years to pursue his musical dreams – offered a sage piece of advice: “Don’t let age be the reason you didn’t give that one thing you’re passionate about at least an effort.” Gil blazes these personal trails with a set of sweet soaring ballads and easy grooving mid-tempo gems – plus a super funky piano driven, guitar soaring instrumental – produced by David Lee Spradley, renowned for his work with everyone from George Clinton and Stevie Wonder to Roy Ayers and Earl Klugh. ~ www.smoothjazz.com
No comments:
Post a Comment